Eid ul-Fitr (Idul Fitri) Celebration in Hong Kong

Eid ul-Fitr or Idul Fitri or Lebaran is one of the major national holiday in Indonesia and other Moslem countries. If it is in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, it is identical with 1) a week holiday, 2) domestic helper is away, 3) busy activities in the malls/supermarkets, and 4) the fact that Jakarta becomes very quiet as most of its residents are away…

 

This year in Hong Kong

How is it the fasting month of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri celebration in Hong Kong? Nothing. Unlike in Jakarta, where most shopping malls and hotels are decorated beautifully for this festive season. Days gone by as they never exist. 

Even though Ramadhan and Idul Fitri are quiet in Hong Kong, the big Indonesian community here did welcome this festive month with joy. Some friends got together organizing their own “Bukber” (Buka Bareng) or break the fast gathering. The most convenient place is to have it at the Indonesian Restaurant, as they are familiar with this event and food matches! Also, every Friday during Ramadhan, crowds gathered at the Indonesian Consulate to meet with each other and to break their fast. 

It was not only because of food they gathered, some friends collected donation and organized food for the domestic helper shelters. As we might be aware, there are 150,000 Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong. What was also sweet on this activity, donation was also provided by some non-Moslem friends…

 

Last year?

I have just moved to Hong Kong and was busy with all of the moving things; finding a new apartment including its furniture while I was having flu and skin irritation due to allergic, and when things were about to be settled I broke my left toe!

 

Two years ago?

I moved from Jakarta to Ho Chi Minh City: Eid ul-Fitr celebration in Vietnam

 

So going back again to this year’s story...

 

Idul Fitri prayer was held by the Indonesian Consulate General of Republic Indonesia on Friday 9 August 2013 at the Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. I guessed there were 800-1,000 people attended. I was told that last year it was attended by 1,500 people. As last year Idul Fitri was on Sunday which is the day off for the migrant worker.

Eid Prayer @ Victoria Park, 9 August 2013

 

The prayer started at 8.30 am by two speeches and followed by the prayer. By 9.03 am, prayer was done. The Imam’s speech followed afterward and finished before 10 am… It was 32 ° Celsius and “very hot” warning in force by HKO… 

Idul Fitri, the end of Ramadhan, means becoming holy again...

 

 

Wishing you the best of Eid ul-Fitr – Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri – Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin.

Lebaran di Kampung Orang Lain (Again?)

English version is available on next posting "Eid ul-Fitr Celebration in Hong Kong"

 

Dua tahun lalu saya merayakan Lebaran di kampung orang, tepatnya di Ho Chi Minh City -Vietnam.  

Tahun lalu di Hong Kong, karena baru pindahan dari Ho Chi Minh City: heboh cari tempat tinggal baru dan perabotannya, stres sama pindahan dan kota baru jadi sempat flu dan alergi gatel2 karena obat, begitu keadaan sepertinya lumayan alias udah dapet tempat tinggal dan beres2, jempol kaki gue retak ketiban meja setrikaan! Jadi kesannya Lebaran lewat begitu aja… 

Tahun ini jadinya excited menyambut Ramadhan, apalagi udah banyak punya temen disini jadi bisa buka puasa bareng. Tapi selain ngomongin Bukber, temen2 berinisiasi mengumpulkan sumbangan, koordinasi dengan shelter Buruh Migran dan memberikan snack box buka puasa. Yang bikin terharu, inisiatif ini juga didukung oleh rekan2 non-muslim. Sebagai informasi, terdapat kurang lebih 150,000 Buruh Migran Indonesia (BMI) bekerja sebagai domestic helper di Hong Kong. Mereka kerja mencari nafkah jauh dari keluarga di tanah air.  

Satu lagi yang bikin excited.. Ternyata Konsulat Jenderal Republik Indonesia (KJRI) di Hong Kong punya acara buka puasa. Jadi pada suatu buka puasa di hari Jumat, dimana dihadiri oleh pejabat2 KJRI, kita satu gank hadir disana. Seru karena ketemu teman2 lainnya....  

Buka puasa dimulai dengan teh manis dan martabak manis, lalu disambung dengan soto ayam, makanan utamanya ada ikan asam manis, ayam dimasak apa gitu, hehehe.... Ternyata menu buka puasa hari itu adalah sponsor dari perusahaan BUMN yang ada di Hong Kong, makasih ya.....

 

Shalat Idul Fitri - Victoria Park, Jumat 9 Agustus 2013

 

Puncak rangkaian kegiatan Ramadhan pastinya Shalat Ied diadakan hari Jumat, 9 Agustus 2013 di Victoria Park. Taman ini adalah lapangan terbuka untuk umum, di daerah Causeway Bay, di beberapa bagian di tempat ini sering dibikin pameran juga. Yang bikin terkenal sih, karena lapangan ini penuh sesak setiap hari Minggu. Kenapa? Karena itu hari liburnya BMI dan mereka pasti ngumpul disana. 

Sebelum Shalat Ied dimulai, jalan menuju Victoria Park sudah ramai. Seramai hari Minggu! Suhu udara 32 ° Celsius atau yang menurut BMG-nya Hong Kong “very hot” ini beneran panas… Kelihatan banyak yang mengeluarkan perlengkapan payung, kacamata item, kipas… -J

Kalau diperhatikan lebih dari 500 orang yang hadir atau bias jadi sampai 1,000 orang! Tahun lalu jumlah peserta Shalat sekitar 1,500 orang (karena tahun lalu Lebaran jatuh pada hari Minggu, hari libur BMI).

Acara yang diadakan oleh KJRI ini dimulai sekitar 8.30 pagi. Dimulai dengan dua sambutan, dilanjutkan dengan Shalat Ied s/d jam 9.03 pagi, langsung disambut dengan khotbah. Sebelum jam 10 pagi acara selesai... Pesan sponsor panitia acara: “Tolong dibersihkan sampah2nya, semua diangkat dan tempat bersih seperti semula, supaya tahun depan kita bisa sewa tempat ini lagi…” Siap!!!

 

Khotbah Idul Fitri

 

Setelah itu, seperti dimana2, yang ditunggu2 adalah acara Open House… Makanya gue juga jalan kaki dari Victoria Park ke KJRI untuk silaturahmi dengan teman2 yang ‘stay’ di HK ngak mudik Lebaran.  

Ehem… hidden agenda gue tercapai – cari ketupat! Ngak ada ketupat di HK, karena ngak ada daun kelapanya, jadi disini adanya lontong karena ada daun pisang. Beda tipis… Teman2nya lontong? Opor ayam, rendang daging, sambal goreng kentang ati, telor balado, kerupuk… Makanan pembukanya: lupis, batagor, es belewah campur nata de coco, pudding…

 

Bagi rekan2 BMI, KJRI juga membagikan snack box. Syaratnya cuma sabar antri, karena panjang banget antriannya sampe belok ke jalan lain, wakakak… Tapi mereka yang sudah tinggal di HK pasti tahu tatakrama antri dan pastinya tertib.

 

 

Ramai orang di Victoria Park, lihat belakang sana... orang semua

Anyway, seperti artinya Idul Fitri yaitu kembali ke fitrah, gue ucapin Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri, Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin!

ps: Kalo iseng mau baca cerita dua tahun lalu, monggo klik.. Hari raya di kampung orang lain (Eid al-Fitr in Vietnam)

Coffee Time..!

Coffee and cake are the perfect couple. 

Cute biscuits from lovely old friends
& a cup of Godiva hazelnut coffee

I started to drink coffee when I was in high school.  I remember that I liked to drink it in the evening to keep me awake while studying for exams. 

Years before that, when I was in elementary school, I sipped my mom’s coffee from the fridge without her knowing it.  She liked to put a glass of cold bitter coffee in the fridge.  My dad, he liked kopi susu – hot coffee mixed with condensed milk or coffee with creamer or “2 in 1”. 

I was wondering why many adults like drinking coffee, isn’t it bitter?  What’s the good thing about it?  So when I grew up I started to drink coffee as to follow the trend!  Seriously!  

Top left: Coffee Academy, Top center: Marina Aberdeen Club, Top right: Cova
Below left: tea & rainbow cake from dear friend, below center: McDonald,
below right: Indonesian Kopi Luwak, Lamington cake & favorite CD!

 

One of the first “coffee moments” that I recall was when Starbucks first opened its branch in Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.  After having completed presentation skills training, I and some friends went there to release all of the stresses.  It was sweet… 

 

Top left: cheese cake @ Betty's, top right: cakes @ Simply Life,
Below left: tiramisue @ Grappa's, below right: cheese cake @ Gerard Dubois boulangerie

 

Another sweet memory about coffee... My former boss in an American bank in Jakarta used to buy me coffee too.  I remember clearly that one morning, after we had completed an important video conference with the regional office, we spoiled ourselves by going to Plaza Indonesia from Grand Hyatt. We walked to Starbucks and had fresh coffee and croissants!  It was a cool way to release the tension-:)  #rememberingthegoodolddays



Blueberry cheese cake & cappuccino @ Pret-a-manger

Coffee time with family and friends – wherever – is something.  It must be appreciated.  What counts the most is the company, second is the coffee and third is the companion i.e. cakes!

Cappuccino @ Zambra

Coffee & tea with milk, fish soup noodle @ Tsui Wah

Cheese cream bagel & cappuccino @ Tree café

Mocha cappuccino & a cake @ Café Corridor

Cappuccino & red velvet cake @ Zoel

Four Season's cafe

High tea set @ Habitu

 

Mango millefeuille @ Sevva

 

Here are some memories of the coffee and cakes I had along the past year in Hong Kong.  PS: there will be some more in the future!

Cappuccino & cupcake @ Habitu

Cappuccino & cakes @ a café in Harbor City



 

Top left: home made Banoffi cake, Top right: Banoffi cake @ Jaspas
Below left: Banoffi/Toffee pie @ Simply Life, below right: Banoffi pie @ Portobello

Just Food

I think food is one of the universal languages. That unites people. Even if we speak different language with the rest of the people in our surrounding, when it comes to food, just point the food we want on the menu and the waiter will bring it to us, it couldn’t be wrong… 

There are so many types of food in Hong Kong. I have not been able to go to as many restaurants as I wanted to, as there are just too many! But I guess the variety of food below represents a little bit of the part of the world.

 

Dim sum

 

Dim Sum

Halal food and dim sum can be found at the canteen of Wan Chai Mosque. It is actually the canteen of the Islamic Center mosque located in Wan Chai, two stations away from Central, Hong Kong.

Steamed spring roll

 

Radish cake

Complete address: 5^th Floor, Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, 40 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai.

Egg plant

Bean curd skin?

 

Tips: in order to have the complete variety of dim sum, it’s better to arrive around 11.30 am. Then the canteen is closed at 3pm. It’ll open again around 6pm for dinner.

Another dim sum place! This pic speaks for itself. It’s world’s 101 best places to eat and it’s with Anthony Bourdain in the pic.
 

“Dim Dim Sum” is situated at 7 Tin Lok Lane, Causeway Bay, and it is actually within walking distance from Wan Chai mosque. 

Chicken feet? Radish cake? They are yummy…

Tips: it's a busy restaurant, I would go there after the busy lunch hours. If you can't read the Cantonese menu, just ask for the English menu!

 

Thai Food

Still around Wan Chai, “Spice House” in Amoy Street (near MTR Exit A3) offers good home cooking Thai food with a very reasonable price.

Yellow vegetarian curry

Steamed fish with Thai herbs sauce

It is a small restaurant and always busy at lunch hours. What is good, they have "lunch set" such as rice with minced chicken and Thai ice tea of around 50 HK$ (if I'm not mistaken).

Phad thai

 

 

Vietnamese Food

Jokingly I said: nobody speaks Vietnamese in this Vietnamese restaurant! A friend replied: of course, cause you’re in Hong Kong!

 

Yummy Vietnamese food at Nha Trang, Soho, Central

 

There are a few restaurant branches and the one I visited in the one in Soho Central: http://www.nhatrang.com.hk/ It is a busy restaurant which open at 12 noon. Don't expect they open at 11.55 even though there is already queue outside and staff is ready inside. No reservation for lunch (weekend) is accepted, I am not sure for any other day.



Ca phe sua da, ice Vietnamese milk coffee

Once in awhile, I still miss the old days in Ho Chi Minh City.  Then I go to Vietnamese restaurant which I think it is a good idea...

 

“Nha Trang” - everyone pronounces it as “Na Trang”, and every time I have to correct them: “Nya Chang”

 

Yes, I forgot all of my Vietnamese, but I still remember names of my favorite food and drink especially banh xeo and ca phe sua da!

Banh xeo, it's just like crepe with veggie and meat

 

The French Crepes

Yippeee… La Creperie exists in Hong Kong!

Of course the branch at Ho Chi Minh City is more spacious.  Space is a luxury thing in Hong Kong.  Anyway, here's the address of one of the branches: 1/F, Kui Chi Mansion, 100-102 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai.  PS.: reservation is accepted.

 

Savory Crepes at La Creperie

 

My story on La Creperie - Ho Chi Minh City: http://v-in-v.blogspot.com/2012/04/food-for-fun-1-crepes-and-2-teppanyaki.html

Yummy Crepes Brunch & Apple Cidre

What is the best drink to accompany the crepes? Apple cider!

What is perfect to end the Sunday brunch?  “La Hong Kong – Vietnam” was probably the sweetest dessert to cure my 'homesick' of Ho Chi Minh City.

La Hong Kong Vietnam

That’s the silly food story by an Indonesian who was in Vietnam and now is in Hong Kong...

Finding Indonesian Food

There is no complaint about finding Indonesian food or cooking ingredients in Hong Kong. Take the MTR to Causeway Bay, and within a few steps away we can find warung/restaurant/shop/store selling Indonesian food.

One thing that is not available here is Jengkol (Dogfruit or Jering – it has a very strong smell!) which is not my favorite at all, so I don’t bother about it. 

A year ago, when I used to live in Ho Chi Minh City,  the best way to get Indonesian cooking ingredient was to bring them from Indonesia or titip sama teman – asking friends’ favor to bring them in. Otherwise, there was only one Indonesian restaurant. It was closed within a year operation, and a new one has just recently opened.

 

 

Indonesian cooking ingredients is sometimes available in the Asian stores in Hong Kong; Thai stores in Wan Chai or Thai city in Kowloon. I noticed a few shops there sell herbs/seasonings for Thai/Indonesian/Philippine dishes or ready-to-eat meals such as Thai desserts, banana fritter, sweets, etc.

 

Bakso – Meatball

It’s everyone’s favorite! The best time to enjoy this dish is brunch, lunch, snack or even dinner. 

 

Bakso @ Warung Malang, Dragon Rise, Pennington St, Causeway Bay

Bakso @ Indo Proper, Kwong On Bldg, Yee Woo St, Causeway Bay

 

Bakso or baso is very easy to be found anywhere in Indonesian; in small warung by the street or in big restaurant. The main ingredient is meat; mostly beef, chicken or fish.

 

Bakso @ Bu Jocko - Bakso Arema, Fuk Hing Lane, Causeway Bay

 

The side dishes are noodle, tofu, veggie, bawang goreng (slices fried onion), celery, sambal (chili), kecap manis (soy sauce) and perhaps vinegar.  

 

Mie Ayam Bakso (Chicken Noodle & Bakso)
@ Sedap Gurih, Sugar Street, Causeway Bay

 

Mie Ayam (Chicken Noodle) @ Padang Restaurant, JP Plaza, Causeway Bay
I forgot to order the Bakso

Yummy bakso can be found in some places in Causeway Bay.

Bakso Ayam (chicken meatball) - home cooking

 

My first bakso ayam (chicken meatball) – home cooking – ala kadarnya!

 

Pempek – Fishcake

Pempek or mpek-mpek or empek-empek is originally from Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. It is made of Ikan Tenggiri (Tenggiri fish) with tapioca and served with yellow noodle and dark sauce of vinegar. If you like spicy food, add sambal (chili)! If not, the dark vinegar sauce is more than enough, as it tastes sour already. Preferably, Pempek is consumed for lunch or late afternoon, not so much for breakfast or dinner. 

 

Pempek @ Warung Malang, Causeway Bay

 

Warung Malang has Pempek on their menu, I’m not sure if it’s available every day though.
 

Lontong Cap Gomeh – rice cake

This is one of my favorite dishes is a well-known dish from Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.

Lontong is a dish made of compressed rice cake in the form of a cylinder wrapped inside a banana leaf. It is served with chicken curry, vegetable curry, spicy beef/chicken liver in, pickles, boiled egg with spicy sauce, sambal (chili), and kerupuk (crackers).

 

Lontong Cap Gomeh @ Padang Restaurant, Causeway Bay

Even though this food is normally served during Cap Gomeh celebration, however, it is often available on the restaurant menu anytime anywhere including in Causeway Bay.

 

Lontong Cap Gomeh @ Warung Sedap Gurih, Causeway Bay

Selamat makan! Bon appetit!

Between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City

Time really flies... I left Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) last year, it means one year anniversary in Hong Kong. 

There is no need to explain about the differences of the two cities. One is developed and the other one is developing.

Without commenting on the heavy issues, let’s explore the fun things of what these two places have in common and what the differences are... Please note, things written here are based on my personal observation, they are coming from the point of view of a girl who got lost in Saigon last year, and she who is still searching for her identity in Hong Kong.


Ten Similarities

1.  Both cities – Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City - start with “Ho"

 

2.  Language! Both have language that is intervened by tone; up, down, flat, etc. The Cantonese which is used in Hong Kong has six tones, and Vietnamese has also six tones with different accent (north and south).

Tram in Wan Chai

 

3.  Noise pollution. The noises in Hong Kong mainly come from the crowd in the street and the cars. The main root cause in Ho Chi Minh City - please refer to points number 1-2 in “10 Major Differences” below.

 

4.  Noodle is something in common in both places, yellow noodle in Hong Kong and Pho (thin glass noodle) in Ho Chi Minh City.

Halal Saigon in Saigon (left), Halal Dim Sum in Wan Chai Mosque (right)

 

5.  In terms of halal food, from my point of view, it is probably 90% (or more) of food in both places are non-halal.

 

6.  The weather… It is something for sure, in Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City, everyone is sweaty in summer!

7.  Central in Hong Kong reminds me of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.  It isn't a matter of the size. Central is bigger and more luxurious.  However, it is more about the concept as the "main business district".  Both areas can be explored by walking!  It’s fun to walk around Central or District 1 to see office buildings, shops, restaurant/café, attractions, etc.

 

8.  Coffee? The Pacific Coffee in Hong Kong has similar ‘red and white corporate logo’ to Highland Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City. Though, one is round and the other one is oval.
 

Banoffi at Simply Life (left), Jaspas HK (right)

9.  As Banoffi Cake fans, I appoint myself as Banoffi reviewer… The “Banoffi Banana Pie” in Hong Kong, available at Portobello and Simply Life, is similar to “Banoffi Banana Cake”, available at Jaspas in Ho Chi Minh City. Jaspas also exists in Hong Kong with the same yummy Banoffi Cake-:)

10.  Most residents at both cities assume that I am a local...

Ten Differences

1.  There is almost no motorbike in Hong Kong streets. A contrast view in Ho Chi Minh City; too many motorbikes!

2.  Most vehicle in Hong Kong street is hardly honking. As a contrary, there is too many honking on to Ho Chi Minh City streets. 

After working hour traffic in Hai Ba Trung street, Ho Chi Minh City

3.  Crossing the streets in Hong Kong is pretty much safe. Passerby has the right to cross the street and cars are obliged to wait when it is red. In Ho Chi Minh City, even though the traffic light is red for the cars, they seem hardly stop. It’s so challenging to cross the street. 

Busy Central, people walks & crosses the street

4.  When a taxi driver in Hong Kong says “I know”, they take you to where you want to go … When taxi driver in Ho Chi Minh City says “I know, I know”, it is better to watch where he drives - if you don’t want to go around the city… 

5.  Everyone knows how to queue in Hong Kong. People are queuing for taxi, MTR, lift/escalator, restaurants, toilet, etc…. In Ho Chi Minh City, what queue?

Mongkok, HK - it's near the Ladies Market

6.  Big Shopping Malls is everywhere in Hong Kong. There is shopping spot in every inch. Meanwhile in Ho Chi Minh City, big malls can be counted with fingers. 

Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City

7.  In the public places i.e. market/shop/taxi, it is more challenging to find decent English speakers in Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, the biggest challenge is to understand the English accent of the locals.

8.  Some restaurant offers water for guests in restaurant in Hong Kong (by request only). Most restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City provide complimentary ice green tea refillable (by default). 

9.  The food price in the street in Hong Kong is double or even two and a half times more expensive compared to Ho Chi Minh City. However, it comes with the portion. Let’s take an example of a bowl of noodle. Pho in Vietnam costs around 40,000 VND in Pho 24 restaurant. It is around 15 HK$, but the chicken meat is too little…

Pho - Vietnamese thin glass noodle

10.  It is much easier to get Indonesian food in Hong Kong! There are a few shop/restaurant/warung sells Indonesian food/ingredients in Causeway Bay. Unless I went to an Indonesian friend’s house in Ho Chi Minh City, it was hard to get yummy Indonesian food . When I still lived there, the only Indonesian restaurant open was out of business within a year. I heard a new one has just been opened…

Indonesian food in Causeway Bay

Anyway, after living in a couple of different places in the last two years, home is where your heart is…

Personally, the biggest difference between Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong is the bike!

Life continues...